Hot-metal car



Apreifl Q, H929. c. P. ASTROM HOT METAL CAR Filed March 8, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet APFEE c. P. ASTROM HOT METAL'CAR Filed March 8, 1928 5 Sheets$heet 3 AFTER 9 31929- C. P. ASTROM l,7@8,7

HOT METAL CAR Filed March a, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 am 11 an; 5

Q. P. ASTROM .HOT METAL CAR Apmifl 9, 1929.

Filed March 8, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 C. P. ASTROM nor METAL CAR Filed March 8, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 9, i929.

CARL P. ASTRDM, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO M. 1-1. TREAD WELL COMPANY, INC., 0F. NEVJ YORK, N. '35., A COR?ORATION OF NEW" YORK.

I noniunrai. can.

Application filed-March 8, 1928. Serial No. 260,141.

The present inventionrelates to hot metal cars such are used in steel works and iron foundries for receiving molten iron from blast 'l urnaces and transporting the same to various points of discharge.

Hot metal cars embodyin the principles of construction disclosed in Patent No. 1,489,688, g antcd to me April 8, 192%, have proven eminently satisfactory in practice and are now widely used. The car illustratedin the patent above referred to comprises two wheeled bodies or frames and a metal container mounted thereon for rotation about a fixed axis, the container shown having a cylindrical. mi d section and conical end,portions, the charging and pouring aperture being formed in the central cylindrical portion. Jars of this type have thick linings of refract ry material and relatively small surface are: s for given capacities, thereby minimizing the radiation of heat from the contained metal to the outside air and actually rendering it possible to store the metal in a molten condition for considerable periods of time. The more complete the envelopment of the metal by the walls of the metal receutacle of the car, the less the heat loss by 'adiation and the longer the metal willremain in a fluid state. l i herevor, therefore, it is desired that the rate of loss of heat be reduced. to the absolute minimum, any opening. formed in the metal receptacle for the purpose of charging and discharging the same should be provided with a closure by means of which it can be closed or blocked at all times except whcnhot metal is actually being charged into or discharged from such receptacle. Where such closures are not ch1 ployed, the loss of heat from the metal adjacent the open charging and pouring openings is rapid as compared with the heat loss at other points, and as a consequence the metal near these openings has sometimes become solidil'ied, when cars have been allowed to stand for conside able periods of time, thus forming skulls.

The ladle or metal container of the car above briefly cescribed is substantially circular in ach cross sectional plane and as a whole is formed as a solid of revolution. l ith other types of ladles, however, such as those of square, rectangular, ellipsoidal, etc., cr'ss section, or with vertical ladies with conical, cylindrical or other well-known forms of metal ladies, the same difficulties are GXpQl'iGDCOCl;

The object of the present invention therefore is to provide an elfective closure for the charging and discharging opening or openings, of metal containers or ladies generally, of hot metal cars, which will largely prevent the heat losucs heretofore occurring because of direct exposure of the metal to the air and which will not interfere with the normal operation of the container or car, taken as a whole, nor which will require, in the usual case, any attention or manipulation. This object is attained by providing a cover, or canopy, which extencs over the charging and discharging oaening of the container when this opening is inits normal or uppermost position, this canopy intercepting and reflect ing the upwardly directed heat rays in much the same manner as does the refractory roof of an industrial furnace. The canopy is normally held in lined p sition with respect to the container, sothat when the latter is rotated about its axis to pour the metal or for the purpose of introducing a charge of molten metal, the opening moves out from under the canopy andthe canopy therefore does not interfere with the charging or pouring operations. lhere may be of course two or more charging and discharging openings in any particular ladle and the canopy may be arranged to extend over one or all of said openings. T he invention will be found also to be of the greatest utility when embodied in a hot metal car in which the ladle is arranged. with its longer axis vertical and the entire top of which is open and comprises a very large charging and discharging opening. Such ladles are arranged to tilt about horizontal axes. Many hot metal cars of this type are now in use but can only be employed for transporting molten metal for short distances because of the rapid loss of heat. I contemplate the use of my improved canopy with this type of car, as well as with the substantially all enclosed type first mentioned, and in the following specification and in the accompanying (ll2t\Vlll, ?fS several such cars are illustrated, with their associated canopies.

The invention may obviously assume various forms or embodiments in different environmen and it will be understood that that form l'iereinafter specifically described,

and which is illustrated in the drawings, is set forth by way of example only.

la the drawingr-iz Fig. 1 is a side view of a hot metalcar equipped with a cover or canopy co; structed in accordaice with the )resent invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2) is a partial section, taken on the line -l3 of Fig. 1

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view through the cover or canopy;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view oil the cover and its support;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the canopy;

Fig. 7 is a section taken through a portion or the canopy support;

Figure 8 shows in side elevation a hot metal car of common type but having one term 01" my improved. cover positioned to normally cover the large and otherwise unprotected top;

Figure 9 is an end elevation 01 the same she "ing in dotted lines the positions which the ladle and cover assume in a pouring operation;

Figures 10 and 11 are side and end elevations respectively of a hot metal car which is generally similar in construction to that shown in Figures 8 and 9 but in which the ladle is supported so as :1 tilt about. a fined axis so that it is unnecessary to partially lift the cover to charge or discharge the same;

Figures 12 and 13 are side and end elevalions respectively of a ladle oi the three trunnion type and adapted to be carried by a car such as that illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, this type or ladle having large pouring lips rather than those 0t smaller type such as shown in those ligurcs; and

Figure ll is an end view of portion or a hot metal car, with a ladle of the type shown v in Figures 8 and E) mounted thereon, special link meml'iers being provided, however, "for automatically lifting the cover when the ladle is tilted.

The hot metal car illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive elf the drawings need not be described at length, as it- 'is et' a type now wellknown in the art, and is fully described in the patent previously referredv to. it comprisos essentially two four wheel trucks, 10 and 11 respectively, supporting platter-ins 12 and 13. Each platform carries a pair of longitudinally aligne: bearings 14, 15 and lo, 17 respectively, in which are mounted aligned trunnions 18 of an elongated hollow body or container 18, which is normally the sole connection between the two trucks. The container is formed as a metal shell lined with refractory material so as to be meehan viously referred to. Mounted on platform 12 is an electric motor 19 which drives, through suitable gearing, a toothed wheel 20 lined on one trunnion oi? the container, whereby the latter can be rotated about its axis in either direction. The container is provided with a single opening ill in the cylindrical portion the set which serves as a charging and as a discharging or pouring aperture.

The stationary cover or canopy which l provide as a closure o'l this opening comprises essentially a rectangular metal frame enclosin and so i )OI'tlI'l an arch of 'elractoiy material. The longitudinal members ot the frame may conveniently be angle irons, the curved end pieces 22 plate sections, and the refractory material silica bricks, or other suitable refractory bricks. The curve of the arch centered on the axis or the container trunnions, and there is a small clearance between the edges of the opening 21 ot the container, and. the lower surfaces of the frame members 22, so that while the canopy eitfectually closes said opening when the container is in normal position yet it does not interfere in the least with the rotation of the latter, the upper surface of the spout being likewise curved about the trunnion axis.

The canopy preferably has a three point support on the truck platforms, but the in vention of course is not limited to a support of this particular kind. As shown, the truck platform 12 carries a pair of vertical bars bolted at their lower ends to the hearing at opposite sides of the trunnion 18 and equidistant therefrom, said bars being connected at their upper ends by a cross bar and being or ccd by diagonal bars 25. Truck platform 13 carries a single vertical bar 26 bolted at its lower end in cars 27 integral with a sleeve 26 rotatably mounted upon the trunnion. The canopy is supported by horizontal bars 28 and 29, bars 28 connecting bars with one end oi the canopy frame and bars 29 connecting bar with the opposite end said frame. The canopy is thus supported in fixed position with respect to container 18 and the latter may be rotated in either direction without interference with the canopy. In the construction described, the canopy is supported in part by the car frame and in part by the container, and while this is at present considered to be the best and most practical way of supporting the canopy, the invention in its broader aspect is not limited to any particular type of canopy support, the only essential being that the canopy be supported in such a way that it will maintain a relatively fixed position while tl e container is being rotated. and while the car is moved along the track.

inasmuch the car is subject to longitudinal jolts and of considerable magnitude when being shifted or drawn from one point to another, the supporting framework ofthe canopy must be suitably braced in a longitudinal direction. Diagonal braces such as are indicated at maybe provided for this purpose, or any other desired analogous bracing means ma be employed. The canopy support should also be so designedas to Withstand transverse shocks or forces, due either to lurching of the car in transit or to impact of acongealedmass of metal adhering to the edge of the pouring opening againstthe side of the canopy as the container is righted after a pouring operation. The canopy must be so strongly supported'that it can knock off any such adhering masses. It'may be generally stated that both canopy and supporting structure maybe varied considerably in design without departure from the invention. instance, where the cars have continuous underframes, the upright and transverse membe rs, as well as the braces, of the canopy supporting frame may be considerably modified. Furthermore, it wilibe apparent-that the invention may be utilized in connection with slag cars as well as hotmetal cars. I also consider it desirable to detachably secure, as by means of bolts 28, 28 and 29', the canopy supporting membersQS and 29 to the upright members 23 and 26 of the frame so that the canopy may be conveniently removed for the purpose of patching or replacing the refractory material.

The hot metal-car shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings-is of well-known type, comprising essentially a frame indicated generally at 35, mounted on wheeled'trucks 36 and Ctll'l' /l11g a ladle 37 mounted on trunnions; It is what is lznown asthe three trunnion type of car, but five trunnions may be employed at each end without departure from its principle of operation. It may be tilted to the right about the axis of aligned trunnions 88, 38 (Figure 9) or to the left about theaxis of aligned trunnions 39., 39; Intilting, a chain is used, this chain beingliooked to one or other of the chain lugs, one of which is indicated at 40. The canopy or cover is indicated at ll and comprises abuilt up steel frame which supports refractory material, such as fire bricks, silica bricks or material Which may be poured into place while in plastic condition.

This cover is square as viewed in plan but arched in transverse section to conform to the curvature of the upper edge of the ladle. Projecting from each corner, in directions parallel to the trunnion axes is a pin 42, the two pins on each side of the car being axially aligned. Each pin normally rests in an open bearing i3 and such bearing is mounted 011 the top of a post or pedestal ll. The lower ends of these posts are supported in sockets which may conveniently be made integral with the trunnion supports. Diagonalbraces for each corner post' are indicated at 4'5 and For 46, braces extending to the'car frame and braces at; to the trunnion supports. he coruer posts and canopy are thus held against lateral movement.

Inasmuch as the ladle is not t ted about a single central axis to be charged or discharged, but on the other hand is'tilted about an axis to one side of the center it is obvious that its upper edge would strike the canopy in tilting unless the latter is lifted slightly as a preliminary step. To facilitate lifting of the canopy by meansof a chain 47, for instance, it is provided with two curved-bars 48 positioned, respectively, adjacent its opposite edges, the ends of these bars being secured in channel members r-9 extending tansversely of the canopy and secured to the frame thereof. By fastening a chain to either such bar and exerting a pull'thercon by means of a crane or the like the canopy may be'tilted about the axis of the aligned pins 42'on its opposite edge. The positions occupied by the ladle and cover at the completion of a pouring operation are shown in dotted lines in Figure 9. The pouring lips of this ladle are indicatedat 50.

T he hotnietal car illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 has its frame and canopy formedsubstantially in the same manner as in the case ofthe car shown in Figures Sand 9, and the ladle also is practically the'same except in that it is supported upon the frame by means of a single pair of centrally arranged trunnions, one at each end. All points along the upper edge of the ladle are equidistant from the axis of rotation and the lower face of the canopy is likewise curved about this axis. The ladle may be tilted about its axis therefor in either direction of rotation without ncce tating movement of the canopy, as in the form of the invention first described. Nevertheless the canopy is provided with lifting bars 51 as it found desirable to lift it off of the car occasionally to replace or patch the refractory material.

The upper edges of certain ladies are not curved about their axes of rotation, as in the case ofthat form just described, and in some instances are not even curved about axes parallel to the axes of rotation. 'lhusthe upper edge of the three trunnion ladle shown in Figures 12 and 13 is curved about an axis transverse to its two axes of rotation, principally for the purpose of providing large pouring lips, such as indicated at 55. The canopy is of course correspondingly curved. Naturally when the ladle is tilted about one or the other of its axes of rotation the canopy must be lil-zewise tilted, or rather tilted in the opposite direction as in the case of the canopy shown in Figure 9, so that the edgeof the ladle will clear its undersurface. Or the canopy may be lifted verticall rather than tilted, and in the drawings the means fastened to the canopy top to facilitate con venient attachment of a lifting chain is de- .8 and 9 and is supported by a similar fi amework. Means is added however whereby the canopy automatically tilted when the ladle itself is tilt d thus obviating the necessity of tilting or l the canopy to avoid interference between the ladle edge and the canopy Ullt'ltlfilll'filCG. This means includes links (51 (only one of which is shown) the lower ends o't which are pivotally connected to trunnions 62 and the upper ends of which are pivotally connected to pins (33 of the canopy. Rotation of the ladle about the axis of truimions G l causes links 61 to thrust pins 63 upwardly and the canopy to tilt about the axis of pins into the position shown in dotted lines. Return of the ladle to normal position re sults in lowering; of the canopy, the action of which may therefore be said to be automatic. The links are easily ren'iovable and may be conveniently attached to trunnions 64L and pins 65 for rotation of the ladle in the opposite direction, with corresponding automatic movements of the canopy.

All forms of canopies utilized are readily removable from their supporting frameworks. This permits them to be lowered to the ground or floor for the purpose of repair, in which position such repairs may easily be made and without the necessity of waiting for the ladle to cool to permit workmen to go inside. Also an entirely new or a different canopy can be substituted for one found defective in a few minutes. .Vhere metal is to remain in the ladies "for considerable lengths of time, as for instance where cars are to be transported for long distances, say ten or fifteen miles, the narrow joints between the edges of the pouring openings and the canopies may be filled with mud or the like, thus preventing; splashing out of the metal and entirely preventing the direct loss of heat. 'l hese mud seals are easily broken at the point of discharge.

ll hile l have illustrated and described my improved heat retaining canopy or cover as applied to several types of hot metal cars, it will be understood that it is well. adapted for use with ladies which vary widely in shape, construction and. methods of mounting upon car frames. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the problem of minimizing the heat losses from mobile metal containers is a general one and that the present invention provides a solution of general applicability.

Having: thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hot metal car, the combination with a rotatable container having an opening through which molten metal is adapted to be poured when the container is rotated from normal position, of a canopy normally covering said. opening, and means for supporting the canopy in relatively fixed position while the container is being rotated.

2. A hot metal car including in combination, a car frame, an enlone'ated hollow body mounted upon trunnions for rotation about an axis and having an opening through which the material contained therein is adapted to be poured, a pair of uprights fixed to the car frame at one end of said body at opposite sides of the axis thereof, another upright at the opposite end of said body in the line of said axis and supported upon one of said trunnions, and a canopy supported by said uprights so as to cover said opening when said. body is in normal position.

3. ll. hot metal. car including; in combination, a car frame, anelongated hollow body lined with refractory material, mounted for rotation on an axis on the car frame, and having an opening tln'ough which the material contained therein may be poured, a heat retaining canopy normally extending over said opening, said canopy having its under side curved on an axis coincident with the axis of said trunnions, and means for supporting said canopy on the car frame with a slight clearance between the under side of the canopy and said body.

4;. The combination with a rotatable container f or molten material having an. opening through which the molten material is adapted to be introduced and discharged, of a canopy of refrz'rctory material normally covering said opening, said canopy being curved on an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of said container and being spaced a relatively short distance therefrom, and means for holding the canopy stationary while the container is being; rotated.

5. The combination with. a car frame, of a hot metal container mounted thereon and be hip; rotatable as a whole about an axis, a pouring; opening formed in the wall of said cylindrical portion, and a heat retaining canopy rigidly supported with respect to the container and so positioned as to overlie the pouring); opening when said opening is upwardly directed.

6. The combination forth in claim 5 in which the canopy is curved eylindrically about said axis and the spout is also curved about the same axis, there being a relatively small clearance between spout and canopy.

7 The combination set forth in claim 5 in which the canopy comprises a metallic frame which supportsan arch of refractory brick.

8. In a hot metal car, the combination with a rotatable container for molten metal having an opening through which the molten metal is adapted to be poured when the container is rotated from normal position, of a relatively stationary heat retaining canopy normally covering said opening said canopy being detachably secured in such position so that it may be readily removed for repair.

9. The combination with the wheeled frame of a hot metal car, of vertical. supporting members rigidly mounted thereon, a canopy supported on said members, and a ladle til ably supported on the frame beneath the canopy the said. canopy normally covering the charging and discharging openingof the ladle.

10. In a hot metal car, in combination a container for molten metal mounted for through which molten metal may be discharged when the container is tilted from its normal position, of a relatively fixed heat retaining canopy which covers said opening when the container is in normal nosition, said opening moving out from under said canopy when the container is tilted into its discharging position.

11. in a hot metal car, in combination, a container having a discharge opening, and a canopy adapted to normally cover said opening, said container and. canopy being mounted for relative movement of rotation, and such relative movement resulting in the uncover ing of the discharge opening" of the container when the container is moved into its discharging position. I

in testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CARL P. ASTROM. 

